Improvement in box-clamps for tobacco-presses



ATEN'I A FFICE.

THOMAS I. ROBERTSON, OF MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOX-CLAMPS FOH TOBACCO-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,142, dated October 28, 1873; application filed October 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS I. ROBERTSON, of Madison, in the county of Bockingham and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in BOX-Clamp for Tobacco Press, of which the following is a specification Figure 1 is a top view of my improved clamp, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same taken through the line a: as, Fig. 1.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved clamp for tobacco-boxes, which shall be simple in construction, strong, and durable,

requiring. much less time to apply and remove it than the ordinary clamp. The invention consists of the clamp, formed of two blocks, made of hard wood, notched across the grain upon their inner sides, and held together by two or more bolts, as hereinafter fully described.

A is the rear part, and B is the front part, of the clamp, which parts are made of hard wood. In the inner side of each of the pieces A B, and across the grain, is formed a notch, the sides of which meet each other at right angles, and are at an angle of forty-five degrees with the inner sides of the parts A B, so that when the said parts are brought together the two notches may form a square hole. O are bolts, which pass through holes in the parts A B, and are secured in place by metallic straps D, attached to the rear Or outer side of the part A, and which pass over the heads of the bolts 0. In the forward ends of the bolts 0 are formed slots to receive the wedge-keys E, by which the parts A B are drawn and held together. The ends of the parts A B, at their inner edges, are rabbeted, as shown in Fig. 1, to form grooves to receive the screw-posts. To the outer forward corner of the upper side of the rear part A are secured plates F, the

outer edges of which are notched to correspond with the rabbets of the two parts A B to receive the screw-post, so that the part A will not be pushed back out of place while the clamp is being manipulated. Across the end parts of the outer sides of the parts A B are secured straps G, which are let into said parts, and have holes formed through them for the passage of the bolts 0. The straps G are designed to prevent the parts A B from being worn by the heads of the bolts 0, or by the keys E. To the ends of the part B are attached handles H, for convenience in moving said part back and forth. I is a bottom, which is made of such a size as to fit into the bottom of the tobacco-box and support it while the clamp is being adjusted. The bottom I is supported by arms J attached to it and to the part A. K are iron bars for the forward part B to slide out and in upon. The rear ends of the bars K are let into and are secured to the part A and enter grooves in the lower side of the part B.

If desired, the part B may move in and out upon wheels attached to it.

L are metallic straps or hands let into and secured to the upper part of the notches of the parts A B, to clinch the nails that are driven in to secure the top of the box in place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- The clamp formed of two blocks, AB, made of hard wood, notched across the grain upon their innersides, and held together by two or more bolts, O, substantiallyas herein shown and described. A

THOMAS I. ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

ED. L. MARTIN, I. M. SCALES. 

